WASHINGTON—Representative Eliot L. Engel, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, today made the following statement regarding President Trump’s admission that he “had no idea” whether the United States has a trade deficit with Canada while meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau:

“The President’s admission that he’s literally making things up while speaking face-to-face with a world leader should stop us all in our tracks. How can any other government—ally or adversary—have any confidence in what our President says when he admits to lying? What if the next thing he makes up isn’t about a trade deficit, but about a military deployment or our nuclear posture? How will governments react? Who will be put at risk? It’s dangerous, plain and simple.”

# # #